Tips: Presenting a Humorous Speech

Humor - Some people have it, some people don't.

We've all heard this common quote time and time again. However, is there truth in this quote?

Of course this quote is false! It's an easy conclusion to make after seeing some people effortlessly deliver a good piece of humor while seeing some others fumble and mumble and fail miserably. So, if everybody has humor, what makes the difference between the successful humorous ones and the ones that fail miserably?

From experience, we know we don't just wake up the morning after we sign up as a Toastmaster and immediately are amazingly gifted at speaking. It takes practice, guidance, observation, effort... over and over again. The same goes for a Humorous Speech. Not much of a secret, is it?

Today's blog post is to encourage Area S7 Toastmasters to take advantage of the Internet to learn more about Humorous Speeches. Specifically, YouTube. As the date of the contests approaches, we have limited time to observe how others present humorous speeches and learn from the evaluations given each time, so, why not choose the option to watch video recordings online?

Some personal searches have revealed YouTube videos giving tutorials on the subject.

And so on and so forth about tutorials. Go ahead and try your own searches to find the tutorials that you think you'd need to watch the most.

Next is for observation. The following videos are of actual Toastmasters giving their Humorous Speeches at District level contests. What makes their speeches funny? If he/she can do it, can we?

Ms Rattanakamol Poomsanoh with "Dating Disaster" (Second Runner-up for District 80, 2008)

Ms Ruby Ahmad with "Wholly Matrimony" (District 51, 2006)

Mr Lim Tian Yi (District 80, 2006)

Ms Rohana Ngah with "Life is a Rollercoaster" (District 51, 2004)

I'm sure the videos are able to inspire and encourage you. As amazing as they may be, all these speakers had to start at club level contests too. Looking forward to seeing our Toastmasters giving their all during our club level contests =)

Posted by:
Andrea Liew
Area S7 Secretary

So, you want to be a better Evaluator

What makes a good speech? What makes a bad speech? What are the elements to look out for? Can we motivate others to improve their speeches by an honest evaluation without criticism?

In Toastmasters, we not only learn to give speeches, but we also learn the art of speech evaluation. Being able to provide a wholesome and thorough speech evaluation enables us help each other become better speakers. Additionally, as we become better speech evaluators, we learn to catch our own speaking mistakes and avoid them!

In preparation for the upcoming Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests, Division S and Division N are organizing two Speech Evaluation Workshops, and it's open to all Toastmasters!

(please double-click on the images for better view of the details)

So, what else are you waiting for? See you there =)

Posted by:
Andrea Liew
Area S7 Secretary

When Humor and Judgement Meet

The contest season has begun.

Are YOU ready?

Club-Level Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests

• Motorola Penang TMC + Motorola Penang (II) Cyber-Speakers TMC
  13 August 2009
  Organizing Chair: Rijana


• BM Big Foot TMC
  26 August 2009
  Organizing Chair: Andy Loke


• Bagan Ajam TMC
  28 August 2009
  Organizing Chair: Teoh Pei Yin

What are these Humorous Speech and Evalution Contests and what should we expect? More information will be brought to you soon =)

Posted by:
Andrea Liew
Area S7 Secretary

Welcome on board, folks!!!

WELCOME...WELCOME...WELCOME...

Welcome to the new term of Toastmasters - 2009/2010!!!

In line with the theme of District 51 for this term - "Toastmasters : Speaking Your Way to Magical Transformation", I would like to invite and urge all of you to join us in this magical journey of Toastmasters to transform yourselves into a more effective speaker and leader!

A famous Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, had once said that:

"The only constant in the universe is change."

Personally, this quote has always been the driving force behind my personal development and career. You may want to ask yourselves these questions regarding CHANGE:

• Have you changed to become a better person compared to the old self that you were months or years ago?
• Do you foresee that you will have to change yourselves in the future in order to meet your future family and career demands?
• Do you want to wait till your environment (eg. your job) forces you to change, and thus, suddenly feeling helpless and panic of it?
• Or do you rather seek for change now before your environment comes knocking on your door forcing you to make a change?

Fellow Toastmasters and friends, your future is in your hands. Whether you choose to seek for CHANGE, or to wait till CHANGE comes seeking for you, the choice is yours. In Toastmasters, the many platforms of CHANGE are yours to grab. I, for one, have chosen to seek for CHANGE now when I still have the luxury of doing so. How about you?


A photo taken with the newly-chartered Amphenol TMC officers during the TLI Part 1 on 28 June 2009.
(Photo courtesy of Christopher Choong)

Looking forward to witnessing and achieving an endless series of MAGICAL TRANSFORMATIONS with all of you!


Regards,


Lee Yew Jin, ACB, CL
Area S7 Governor
"Always at your service"

A New Term: 2009/2010

Welcome Notice

hello :)

Welcome to the new term of Toastmasters - 2009/2010!

This year we're moving with the times. No longer shall we depend on just mere word of mouth or old-fashioned memo passing. We're unleashing the power of the Internet!

This blog will serve as our Watchtower. From here the Toastmasters of Area S7 will be able to keep up with the latest news, announcements, coverage of events, tips & hints for improvement, messages from our esteemed Governor(s), while being able to leave comments as a means of entering any discussions.


First Announcements of The Term

1. District 51 has a new theme for this term. "Courage to Conquer" spurred us last term to take up the challenge to take charge. This term, "Toastmasters : Speaking Your Way to Magical Transformation" motivates us to continue our journey of transforming ourselves into becoming more effective speakers and leaders.
   
   
   
   
   




2. With the re-alignment of clubs and inclusion of new clubs in Division S, Area S7 now has an all-new look! We would like to present to you the newly formed Area S7 Council for term 2009/2010...


Area Governor

Lee Yew Jin, ACB, CL
Butterworth TMC, Motorola Penang TMC, Helping Hand Advanced TMC


Assistant Area Governor (Education and Training)

Margaret Stanley, CC, CL
Motorola Penang TMC


Assistant Area Governor (Marketing)

Arthur Kolandasoo, CC
BM Big Foot TMC


Area Council Secretary

Andrea Liew, CL
Motorola Penang (II) Cyber-Speakers TMC


Motorola Penang TMC

President : KK Neoh, CC
Vice President of Education : Rijana
Vice President of Membership : Cheah Ui Ping


Motorola Penang (II) Cyber-Speakers TMC

President : Alex Li
Vice President of Education : Chong Meng Tuck
Vice President of Membership : Pannirselvan Subramaniam


Bagan Ajam TMC

President : Lim Chee Sheng
Vice President of Education : Teoh Pei Yin, CC
Vice President of Membership : Tan Chin Ling


BM Big Foot TMC (new member of Area S7...welcome!!!)

President : Bernard Ewe Ming Teck, ACB, CL
Vice President of Education : Andy Loke Yan Chun, CC
Vice President of Membership : Martin Loh Hong Chuan, CC


Amphenol TMC (new member of Area S7...welcome!!!!)

President : Zairi bin Zainal Abidin
Vice President of Education : Nurul Fairuz Sulaiman
Vice President of Membership : Ruslan bin Umar

That's all for the first entry of this term for our new blog. Do stay with us for more exciting updates!


Posted by:
Area S7 Council